Proof that just because something is sparkly, it doesn't make it prettier.

The All-American Rejects playing "I Wanna" on Rove

Dude, I'm kinda ashamed that I used to think lead singer Tyson Ritter was cute. Now he looks like Iggy Pop from Iggy and the Stooges. (or in this case, a sparkly version of Iggy Pop from Iggy and the Stooges.)

I much prefer them back when they released "Swing, Swing" (Tyson's blue eyes and mop of hair. *gush*)

Ahh well. I'll always be an old school AAR fan I guess. When the lyrics were (slightly) better, the rock was more rock, and Tyson didn't look like a drunk chipmunk who's smoked too much weed.*sigh*

It's been a looonnnggggg week at school.University. Scholarships. Students Loans. RArgh.

But you know what, instead of having a rant about my issues, I'm taking a break.Friday night, letting go.

So the new Panic! At The Disco video came out.

3 things why this video has my interest.1) If you don't hang around the tweenies, then you probably don't know that Panic at the Disco is now only consisting of 2 members, the team of (cutie) Brendon Urie (lead) and Spencer Smith (drums), versus Ryan Ross (lyricist and guitarist) and Jon Walker (bass) citing "musical differences" for their split. (Band breakups always sound like marriage divorce.) So now RyanJon= The Young Veins, and BrenSpence=Panic! At The Disco (OMGTHEYBROUGHTBACKTHEEXCLAIMATIONMARK!...good grief.)

2) So cause of this split up which they only announced last month, and they've only got 2 members, already they're managing to release a single for the new Megan Fox movie "Jennifer's Body" (Vampire/Demon popular girl. Good Grief again.) What suprises me is that Brendon and Spencer actually appear in the video. You would think they'd wait till they got a full band...But okay, jump back on the horse and prove to us all that you guys are all okay.

3) If you vaguely follow P!ATD (or PATD - name it what you will with the bloody exclaimation mark) then you'd know about the very theatrical, fantasy like style they have with their videos. This video - far from it. They spend 90% of the video just looking like they were working with the Men in Black.... Part of a new image?

I do love this song and this video though. As usual, Brendon is adorable, the lyrics are always suggestable ["Can we fast forward till you go down on me..."] and one fun and curious image at 3:25....

Plus, this song has more worth than a lousy Megan Fox "I'm the only reason why people will watch this" movie.

At least I'll know which movie to see when I want to have a good laugh at something terrible.

It seems rare to hear of good, friendly musicians in the news today. Normally every band gets caught up in one scandal or another, and it’s tiring to always hear these controversies daily. So it’s like a breath of fresh air to have Florida’s nicest rock stars, Anberlin, making their way to our shores, rocking it out at the iconic Auckland Powerstation Thursday 20th of August.

Stephen Christian in the tightest pair of skinny leg jeans I’ve seen on a male, a fantastic buzzing lights backdrop, and the intense bass noise make it all worthwhile to be pressed up against the rails amongst the elbows and sweat of others.

The all-ages gig created some barriers for fans. The Powerstation is known to sell alcohol in the bar downstairs, meaning that if you can’t legally drink, you need to get upstairs. So while downstairs the R18s were on the floor, close enough to inappropriately grab the band members (which one person did as Stephen Christian leaned into the crowd), the under 18s (or the ones that forgot to bring ID to get downstairs) struggled with being distant from the band and pinned against the railings. And not surprisingly, there seemed to be more under age fans than of older. Bless Anberlin and their compassionate hearts; during their set they announced that after the show they asked the venue holders to open up downstairs so that their youngster fans could still meet with the band. It’s fantastic that despite already being an intimate venue, Anberlin still want to make the move to meet every single person.

Two sets of encores later, the band is shaking hands, signing shirts and taking photos with small groups of people in a casual friendly atmosphere; though by that stage, some of them looked like they were down on energy. Deon, the band’s bassist, says that they only arrived in Auckland at 11pm the day before and are leaving for Perth in the morning, so there is a good amount of gratefulness towards their efforts.

Overall it was a fantastic performance from Anberlin, both on and off the stage. Fast paced, energetic, and a bit of fun, the crowd were fully immersed in the music. The only downside however? Waiting another few years before their next concert in Aotearoa.

Here's a quick list of what I've learnt.1) Always make sure your friends have their ID cards before going into a concert.2) Flordia boys have GORGEOUS accents. (Mainly Stephen Christian. His voice is surprisingly kinda a higher pitch than I expected.)3) HOLD your spot. Never leave it.4) Don't try to lose you voice. Specially if you're wanting to talk to the band.5) Always carry a sharpie/vivid/marker/pen.6) Don't let your voice crack infront of awesome band members. Much like point 4.7) Don't let yourself get starstruck. Which will then go on to cracking voices and mild uncoolness. Links with points 6 and 4.8) Have decent cameras with decent zoom.9) Next time I'm moshing up front.10) ANBERLIN ARE SO FANTASTIC LIVE!

Thanks for tripping over to New Zealand boys :D♥

(btw....I melt when I think of how I shook Stephen's hand as he said "Hi Mel!" to me. Fangirl much? XD)

My "first" concert.(or at least, what I'm gonna consider as my first concert.)

Tonight, me and my great fantastic wonderful friend are gonna go to The Powerstation in Auckland to watch Flordia babes, Anberlin!

What makes them great?

XD

Well other than that gem of a track, they're just GREAT alternative rock.

Cause I mean, music, like Top 40 hits and whatever...they're just really going down the drain. Getting stupider and stupider with every song.

Like take Cobra Starship's "Good Girls Go Bad"It's catchy, I can admit that. I have the song stuck in my head at the moment. And it is good party music. But the lyrics "I make them good girls go bad"Okay well:1) Way to talk up yourself.2) BAD ENGLISH3) You sound like a prick.

So it would be no great loss to the music world if this song never appeared in society.

But see, if there was no Anberlin, then today's music would have less hope.Cause today more than ever, good, honest, decent music is needed.

So I'm cranking out Autobahn - one of my favourite Anberlin songs.And I'm getting ready to party XD

Up until yesterday, I had never had alcohol in my life. No sips of red wine, no gulp of champagne. Nothing.

But yesterday, went to my friend's 18th dinner. We and a small group of mates went down to the city with her family, to a resturant that I won't name.We were ordering drinks, and I was teasing my newly 18 year old friend how she could get a cocktail now since it's legal. (The drinking age in New Zealand is 18 years old.)She was shaking her head, saying no, it's fine.

Then the idea came about that we should both get cocktails.And so she said she would get one, if only I would.I said I'd get one if she chooses. Cause I thought, what the hey - do something 18 so people can stop asking me.

Our friends ended up picking for us. A drink (which I also shall not name just in case - being associated with the resturant) that was described as a mango, passionfruit vodka, with Frangelico sorbet and plum vodka.They must have thought "oh yeah, sorbet. Must be good." Like it's fruity or something.

Oh gosh, it was not good.

The drinks came round eventually. Everyone was like "ooh, Mel is having her first drink ever! take photos!"it looked cool. The glass was like a martini glass with a zigzag column handle thing...It was yellowish, thick, and had this oil looking stuff over it. (plum vodka?)I stuck the straws in, gave it a sip.First it was Oooh...then wait... then: yuck.At first taste, it almost was nice. Then the actual taste came and it was like...horrible bad liquid medicine. Like...well I dunno. Terrible medicine.I had more and was like "Well....what am I gonna do with a $15 cocktail? It would be incredibly rude for me to leave it. Maybe I'll just drink it while I'm having dinner."So for a while, I was letting the vodka keep my stomach warm.

I chose fish and chips for dinner. I was like "small sounding dish. Should be fine."Not small. Infact, incredibly filling.Don't get me wrong, it did taste great. Their food is pretty good. Their garlic bread was excellent, and the bite of steak I had off my friend's plate was really tender and amazing. But it was so filling...I struggled to finish. And really - I shouldn't have finished it if I couldn't. I just really hate leaving food on my plate. Specially since someone else has paid for it. (I really hate spending money, specially if it's someone else's that I haven't earnt.)

So when I realised the cocktail was still there - in my head and my stomache I was like "UGH. Don't drink."But I was also feeling obliged to finish it. Cause 1) someone else paid for it. and 2) It was my first alcoholic drink.So after I had passed it around, asking if anyone else wanted to try it (and hoping they'd take huge gulps - to which I got back "Wow, that is pretty strong...it has a really weird taste") I got the straw and downed the rest of it.

What a bad move...Cause the rest of the night, I felt absolutely sick.Or at least more sick than I already felt after stuffing myself with dinner. The cold didn't help too.While we were walking (the long distance) back to the cars to go get icecream, all in my head was "feel sick. Not good. Maybe go home?" - and I did consider it. I didn't want to spoil the night - but my friends were all '"it's just icecream. You don't look like you're sick. Are you gonna be fine?"To which I replied "Yeah...I should be fine."

I sat up front while we made our way to this place (Movenpick?) where my friend said did have the best icecream (in Auckland anyway. Pretty sure Welly/Christchurch's Strawberry Faire is up there too.)Didn't get any icecream...Just sat there at the table going "ugh...." (quietly) hoping that the feeling would pass. I felt really cold, and kinda numb. And of course in pain.

Then on the ride back....ugh not good either.About 15 minutes away on the motorway - I suddenly did not feel good at all. I covered my mouth just in case, and said "Alright, I really don't feel good."Its been a good long while since I last hurled, but I know that the feeling of hurling isn't good.I asked if my friend's mum could pull over. And I was panicking in my head, thinking "Okay. One alcoholic drink and I think it would be a bad thing to get sick in someone else's car."

Pulled over, I got out.I leaned against this fence, trying to breathe. Luckily the feeling passed away really quick. Then didn't feel so bad after that.

Got home, laid in bed. Felt way too weird, fell asleep quickly.

Woke up this morning, and my throat hurt a bit but at least I didn't actually get sick any time through the night.

So I've been real into reading fmylife.com It's stupid, but funny, and just really addictive to read.

But it's made me realise how many FML moments people get.And how many I can pick up in one day.

If only teleport or timetravel machines exist.Cause then we would learn our lessons, and then turn back time to not have to face them.

Yeah I know FML.com wouldn't exist if we didn't have these stupid FML moments.But its like so much pain and confusing and embarrassment comes from this.Right now, I wish for the sea to swallow me.Cause I mean: Messy relationships, unfinished homework, pressures of scholarship, allergy problems, and now me just realising I have to wash the 2nd set of dishes...

It's all pretty with lights...haha. But I really think it could have been done a lot better and smoother. But you know...I really should be focusing more on schoolwork...Except I spend at least 2 hours a day on Facebook and unrelated homework places. (2 hours...sometimes as much as 4...or 6...*cough).

currently: listening to 'Feels Like Falling' by With Hope, while chilling in bed. Like really, I'm cold. Probably should be wearing pants and not short shorts in winter weather...

No, I'm not falling in love.Or maybe I am. Its hard to say.

Reading through my old blog posts - it's like reading through a diary.You read back at the entries, and all the old emotions come up again. You remember what happened, what this all meant, the fears you used to hold...

Think it's fair to say I'm in love.It's like the daydream song...lying on the grass on a sunny day. Imagining that the person you love most in this world is lying beside you, holding your hand. And you stare up at the clouds together and you know both of you are smiling, even though you're not looking at each other.

...I can be romantic when I want to be.

(it still amazes me that the video was pretty much filmed over a whole week inside a studio. Taking one still after another - wow. Kudos to Chris Martin, having to lie there. I'd be sore.)

currently: listening to 'I'm Ready' by Jack's Mannequin. Good thing about this band is that I've learnt how to finally spell mannequin without spellcheck.

I hate chapped lips.It hurts, burns, and is a hell of a pain.

Like all you want to do is lick your lips because they are dry - but then they just feel worse 2 minutes later cause they become twice as dry.

I'm very tempted to stick my lips into a bucket of ice water so I can stop feeling them. Doesn't help to use chapstick just cause I think that's the thing causing my allergic reaction. Lame.If I'm gonna wake up like this tomorrow - I'd be very tempted in skipping school.

And then there's love.Gosh, don't you hate lines like that? It's like something from a stupid Grey's Anatomy monologue.But I'm having issues. As any 18 year old seems to be getting. Or at least I seem to be.Its like a freaking see-saw. First I'm up, then I'm down. And I can't manage to find the balance just yet.Those moments, where you suddenly take notice and I just want to shoot myself for not making up my mind. It's as big as an irritation as what is on my lips. Which is now going through a stage of itchiness at the moment. ARGH.

Why is there no straightforward answer nowadays?I just want God to come down and say "Mel, here is what is going to happen. You're gonna marry this guy, have this many children, have this job, and just live life in the ways that I tell you."

And I'd be "Like sweet. As you want it Lord."

Then I'd ask what the meaning of life is after that and all too. But at least I'd hope that my life would be going somewhere.

My face hurts.Like really, my face hurts.Whatever I'm allergic to - go away.Because whatever it is has been causing my face to burn, to crack, and is beginning to make my lips too big than what I already need. And I already know I have quite big lips.

Fail. Real fail.

The title btw- really has nothing much to do with this post.It's just the usual frustrations of life and all that inhabit within this world.

I can't help but find annoyance in boys.Well certain boys.When they do something, when they don't do something.To be fair to them, girls make it difficult. I know I make it difficult for them - I have high expectations.

I do wonder what my future husband is like though. Provided that God has planned for me to get married.Sometimes, you have a moment where you can't help but wonder who your future husband is gonna be - and if you've met them already.I do wonder if I have already met them...and I just don't know that they're gonna be my husband yet. The thought is kinda scary - like that guy you currently dislike most is who you're gonna spend the rest of your life with...

I can't help but think about the future. Its that time where you're kinda forced into thinking about it.

And on a different note, my video consumption has increased since we have unlimited broadband.Maori Spongebob is really weird...Patrick sounds pretty good though.

The girl.

NZ blogger in the middle of life, love, the world and all that inhabits it. A web addict for radio by day; a web addict in general by night. Writing about the world, travels, food, pop culture and lifestyle.